Category: Inspirations
100 years ago, the Voth family arrived in Canada
As communism gained ground in Russia, and civil war was disrupting the region where the Voths farmed the land in Neu Samara (modern day Orenburg), and Mennonites there were eventually displaced, my (Charles’) grandfather, grandmother and their first 3 children fled their homeland to migrate to Canada. After days and weeks of travel through Germany
Dishcloths to Celebrate Changing Seasons
Although we officially have about 6 weeks of Autumn left, the frost this morning was a reminder that winter is coming. We woke up to a layer of white on bushes and rooftops and the grass. When I was crocheting these dishcloths, winter seemed a long way in the future and we are still waiting
The Eight Zen Lessons
From the book, The Book of Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment , the Japanese Wayby Hector Gracia and Francesc Miralles
Autumn – The Beauty Never Gets Old
Today, I went cycling and the colours were so beautiful. We all have watched colours change in Autumn year after year. It never gets old – every year we are memorized by a beautiful, crisp Fall day and the vibrant colours it brings. It is a paradox – as the leaves die and fall to
The First Day of Autumn 2025
We just ended the most beautiful summer day…the last day of summer for 2025. We swam, we read books and we enjoyed beautiful sunshine all day. Tomorrow is the first day of Autumn for 2025. Do you love the changing seasons? The signs of Autumn are all around is right now – the changing direction
The Great Cycle Challenge
Each August, I challenge myself to ride for Kid’s Cancer. This year I have challenged myself to a 400 km ride and I have actually assembled a team to ride with. We had one 40 km ride together and we are planning another to end the month. I recently read that we need to become
Find Joy in Each Day
Part of finding joy in your life is knowing when to step away and breathe. I recently read this “step away” message from Helen Mirren. I am not the type of person who likes to step away or walk away from a problem. I like to work with people to solve things, learn things and
School’s Out for Summer!
Having spent much of my adult life as a teacher (and all of my childhood as a student), I tend to measure time in school-years. And here we are, at the culmination of yet another year of growth, embarking on the season of rest, freedom and general wilding-out: SUMMER BREAK. I had the amazing privilege
Giving the Blog a Facelift…
We are working our way through the pages of our blog to update and expand our reach. When you start looking at the physical blog, you start thinking about your “why”, so I though I would share some of the “whys” with you. 1. We are bombarded with information through various formats that make their
Time for Change…and a Re-Boot…
I started this blog/website/podcast in September 2019 after my retirement. It started with a focus on women and I spent the first few episodes talking with a friend of mine – we covered women’s health, family, adult children, grief and loss, boundaries and books, and even more. I moved into a “solo” version for awhile
Mother’s Day
With Mother’s Day about two weeks away, I am busy making flower pots to celebrate the women in my life. I lost my mother 29 years ago on April 30th. I have always found Mother’s Day difficult since then. She passed away in a lot of discomfort and pain and she has never known my
Have you played Carrom?
This Easter, we got out our crokinole board for a few rounds. Zachary loves to play crokinole, so, he was introducing the game to his new partner, Angel. During the game, Angel told us about carrom – a game that she played as a child in India. We bought the game and tried it for
Spring Is Here…Cycling Goals
Last week, the weather was SO warm that it inspired me to start setting some cycling goals for this week. I set a goal of 100 km between Sunday, March 23 and Saturday, March 29th. Then, our false spring ended. At this point, you have a decision to make, do you dress up and go
Winter, Winter, Winter…
We are saying good-bye to winter with a little trip to Collingwood to see some good friends and enjoy the VERY deep snow that has accumulated here this year. With a little hiking, some snowshoeing, a dip in the hot tub and some delicious food, we are enjoying our little winter get-away.
10 Things That Say I Love You
Valentine’s Day is around the corner. How can you celebrate love and friendship without “breaking the bank”? Valentine’s Day is about friendship and showing others that we care so, don’t miss this opportunity to spread some love and friendship. Making Valentine’s Day special can be very simple – spend some time thinking about the people
Do you RESET in January?
After all of the Christmas decorations are packed away, I always take a look around the house and do a “reset”. This week, I have purged clothing that I haven’t worn in at least 2 years, cleaned up the office and I have done a thorough vacuum/dust and floor washing throughout the whole house. It
The Peace of Christmas Day
BREATHE, PRAY, SEEK WISE COUNSEL, BE FRIENDLY WITH YOURSELF…FEEL MORE PEACEFUL, PRESENT AND ALIVE. The garment of life, be it tattered and tornthe cloak of the soldier is withered and wornBut what child is this that was poverty-bornThe peace of Christmas Day The branch that bears the bright hollyThe dove that rests in yonder treeThe
Are you thinking about 2025?
There are many ways to prepare for the new year, including: For now, eat delicious food, have a glass of wine, taste some delicious baking, get together with friends and family, read a book, take a walk and be kind to yourself.
Happy American Thanksgiving…
My dishcloths for this week are shaped like the American Flag. This weekend is the American Thanksgiving and then a dive into the Christmas Season. A new year is ahead, I feel that no matter what side of the aisle you sit, there is always some apprehension when change is on the horizon. I will
Re-Visiting the Past – A Visit to Gimli and Springstein and Winnipeg
How important is to understand our roots? It is important to understand your heritage and it will allow you to reconnect with your relatives. You will preserve your family’s unique stories and you might even understand your own medical history and it might improve your own well-being. Understanding your roots helps you develop your sense
Air Travel
We have flown several times – Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet, Porter. I think all of us have seen, over the years, that the “old days” of air travel are over. We do not pay for “First or Business Class” and so, we have experienced “regular” airplane travel. I think the two main things that
Beautiful November and Cycling
This November has been amazing for a great ride. Before the time change, you could slip a ride in during the late afternoon. So why do we still “fall back” every Autumn? Advocates in support of Daylight Saving Time suggest that in addition to reducing crime and automobile accidents, extended daylight hours also improve energy
The Beauty of Autumn
We recently had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Prince Edward County at a beautiful place near Stirling, the community of Oak Lake. It was a 5 km cycle around the lake and we were able to canoe all the way around the lake. There was great hiking (and some bouldering for Sebastian and
Finding Joy in Each Moment
I have been doing a lot of reading about mindfulness lately. The idea is that we are “in the moment” with a clear and openhearted presence that reconnects us with life. We need to learn to “pause”, STOP and become fully present and physically still. Often the moment when we most need to pause is
The Barbequed Turkey
This year, we barbequed our Thanksgiving turkey. We were so grateful to be able to spend a couple of days as a family – riding bikes, going for a walk, talking, eating and just being together – the real meaning of Thanksgiving. This year, we roasted a 16 lb turkey. We heated the BBQ to
What are you doing on the first day of Autumn?
This week has been a beautiful week – summer came to an end with soaring temperatures and lots of sunshine. Today was another beautiful day and we sat by the pool and read and swam and then took a beautiful bike ride along the canal. Autumn is VERY much in the air with its purples
September Cycling – Week 2
Tonight, we did an evening ride on the Hamilton Waterfront Trail with Sebastian. It is a beautiful ride and we finished off at Planted on Locke Street. Planted is gluten free and vegan and they have the best eggplant fish and chips – as well as some amazing donuts – crullers and cherry fritters. Our
Cycling Goals
How much do you move every day? As someone who is 60 years old, I think about the amount that I move a LOT. I am extremely fortunate to be able to move – cycle, swim, hike, lift weights, do Pilates and yoga, clean my house, garden, mow lawn and even a bit of indoor
Having Fun As a Family Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune…
Everyone is back to school, weeks are busy and when the weekend arrives, there is cleaning, laundry and groceries. A lot of kids are involved in activities as well – sometimes it leaves very little time for the simple things in life. Sometimes it is good to take a step back and try something new.
Thank you from TEAM VOTH and the GREAT CYCLE CHALLENGE
Cancer is the biggest killer of kids in Canada, 27 children are diagnosed every week. This August, our family took part in the GREAT CYCLE CHALLENGE. Kids should be living life, not fighting it. With the tremendous support we received from our community, we were able to raise $3035 and bike 807 km! We are
What is your passion?
This August, I am finishing over 300 km of cycling. A couple of years ago, we purchased new bikes from Downtown Bike Hounds in Hamilton, Ontario and it was life changing. Owning a great bike is essential to enjoying cycling. We also bought top of the line helmets and installed 2 water bottle holders on
Cheers to 30 Years…
August 12, 2024 marks 30 years of marriage for Charles and I. We are celebrating quietly. We are planning trips in the future and adventures to come, but for now, we are just enjoying a quiet summer of poolside relaxing, biking, golfing, sewing, reading, thinking and enjoying sitting in our gazebo. Over 30 years you
Shattering the Glass Ceiling
I am not usually political in my blogs. Politics and religion are very personal to me. I don’t want to debate them, I want to allow people to have their own space and thoughts. I love to talk about my beliefs and passions with other people and I love to hear about the beliefs and
The Great Cycle Challenge 2024 – Team Voth
This year, Sebastian and I are riding in The Great Cycle Challenge – riding for a cure for kid’s cancer. In this time of “scams”, this cause is affiliated with SICKKIDS in Toronto. Many children dealing with a diagnosis are treated at this world-class facility. Tonight, we did a practice ride – it was a
The Beautiful Pond
When we golf at Fox Run, we are surrounded by beautiful ponds. It makes me think of teaching “pond life” when I was an elementary school teacher. The elementary school teacher is an “expert” in many subjects, including Science. I remember fondly taking students to Fireman’s Park in Niagara Falls and Chippawa Park in Welland,
How does your garden grow?
Today, as I was sitting in the backyard, I was so surprised to see that my tomato plants are covered with blossoms and even small tomatoes. We have cucumelons and regular cucumbers and cabbage and herbs, our strawberry plants are already starting to ripen and the flowers our blooming. The challenge of the perennial garden
The Great Cycle Challenge
This year, during the month of August, I will be riding 300 km for Kid’s Cancer in the Great Cycle Challenge. My son, Sebastian and I are going to do some rides together as he is going to join the ride this year. My husband, Charles joins me on MANY rides when he is not
What makes me happy? Finding a new fabric store…
Today was a fun day! Several weeks ago, my friend told me about a new fabric store called, Stitch located in Buffalo, New York. Stitch Buffalo is a textile art center committed to empowering refugee and immigrant women through the sale of their handcrafted goods, inspiring creativity and inclusion through community education, and stewarding the
A Spoonful of Sugar
With summer around the corner, I have been thinking a lot about what foods I want to enjoy. Summer is as tempting as Christmas in some ways – ice cream, freezies, marshmallows by the campfire, and all the fancy drinks by the pool. This summer, I have committed to avoiding sugar. I do not bake
Have you seen the BEES?
Last week, I had the privilege of accompanying a school trip to a bee farm. This was planned and organized by Charlotte’s nursery school in Grimsby. I always love an adventure with Mason and Charlotte and this one was fun and full of lots of new experiences and learning. The “beekeeper” was focused on helping
Summer Mornings on the Front Porch
What is your morning routine? When the weather is warm, I love to get up early, workout or do yoga or go for a bike ride and then have a cup of coffee on the porch. When I have the opportunity to sit on the front porch with a cup of coffee, I often get
Celebrate our Humanity….Every.Single.Day.
I recently read a book called, “It’s Not About You” that reinforced how I feel about life – “Life is not about you. It’s about what you do for others. The key to creating collective well-being is to start by improving the life of another person” and it encourages us to “keep focused on the
Easter Blessings
In our family, holidays are always about spending time together as a family – our little family of four – and finding ways to connect and celebrate the people in our circle. I have had people ask me why we do that and the answer is simple – contribution starts when you look beyond yourself
Sauerkraut is Good for the Soul…and lots of other benefits…
In a book I recently read called, Just One Thing by Dr. Michael Mosley, he writes about a whole bunch of “just one things” that you can do to improve your physical and mental health. His guiding words are to – make it simple – be realistic – create a trigger that helps you form
Relationship and Connection
The start of a new year has made me think a lot about what is really important and especially about relationships and boundaries. The relationships that we build need to both challenge and enhance us – they need to make a difference. We seek support, companionship and understanding from others. Relationships work best when they
Movember 2023
Every year when Movember rolls around, it has deep meaning in our family. Just over a year ago, Charles had life-saving surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton. It was nerve-sparing robotic surgery for prostate cancer. Charles and I both have dealt with cancer in our families for most of our adult lives. Both my
A Homemade Neighbourly Christmas
Do you have friends and neighbours that you want to honour at Christmas? Do you want to give something that is meaningful without breaking the bank? I thought that I would give you some ideas that won’t take you a lot of time but, will bring a smile to the faces of those in your
Enjoying a Beautiful Autumn Day…
The weather was beautiful today – 20 degrees – not TOO sunny but, a perfect day for gardening and bike riding. It is so important to take advantage of any nice weather before winter is upon us. It was a busy day – house cleaning, gardening and a bit of quilting. I have been recently
Doors in Spain and Portugal
Our travels through Spain and Portugal were vibrant – the architecture of Lisbon, Porto and Vigo and The Algarve were alive with beautiful colours and the most amazing doors. Below, I have a collection of all the ornate doors we saw as we walked through the cities. We walked 75 km during our trip –
Laundry in Lisbon…
Everywhere you looked people were hanging out their laundry as we walked through the streets of Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and Vigo, Spain. Small washing machines were often in kitchens or bathrooms in the apartments we stayed in but, due to the always beautiful weather, the clothes and towels, etc. were hung outside to dry.
Your job is to stay curious…
Curiousity seems to be the current “buzz word” of the day…stay curious, ask questions, avoid “telling” people what to do, rather listen and continue to probe. Give choices and ownership and your team/family will be more effective because you will have individuals who are engaged and not just sitting back waiting for you to do
THANK YOU TO MY GREAT CYCLE CHALLENGE SPONSORS FOR 2023
As an educator for over 30 years, the welfare of children has always been a top priority. There are many ways to support kids and I have chosen THE GREAT CYCLE CHALLENGE for the SickKids Foundation. It always happens in August and it is great to push myself to ride for this very worthy cause.
August Book List 2023
I have now read 110 out of the `150 books on my reading challenge. That leaves 40 books left until December 31st….there are 122 days left this year…so, that is about 10 books per month. I think that is very doable for me so, maybe, I will even go over…who knows. This month, I am
The Gentle and Consistent Act of Swedish Death Cleaning
Every single time I go to purchase some new “item” for my home now, I think about where it will go in my house, what I will use it for and where, someday, it will end up. I actually don’t remember when I started talking or to whom about Swedish Death Cleaning but, it has
Adaptability – Generating Helpful Thoughts
Three years ago, we recorded a podcast called “Adaptability for the Win”. It was recorded before we started our youtube channel but, it is really worth a listen. https://noroom4phonies.com/2020/07/30/adaptability-for-the-win/ Since recording that podcast, I have continued to think, read and have conversations about adaptability and flexibility. Your mind, body and emotions are all connected and
Compassionate Curiousity
As many of you know, I read a lot. I read all kinds of books and I love learning. In my “second half of life”, I have embraced wholeness through meditation, self-doubt, study and conversation. Creative doubt (curiosity) keeps me with a perpetual “beginner’s mind” – growing, humble and enduring (and even celebrating) the mystery
June 2023 Book List
This month was a difficult one to rate. I read/listened to some pretty amazing books. I am ordering these in order of my preferences but, I thoroughly enjoyed each book. Summer reading is one of my favourite things to do and I do it ALL THE TIME. I listen when I am cooking, cleaning, biking
40 Cheat Codes
These are not mine but, when I read them I really felt I wanted to share them. I can’t imagine re-reading books, there just seems like too many good new ones. Many of these are just super great advice and keep you focused on moving forward in a positive way…every.single.day.
Bonjour Quebec!!
We spent 5 amazing days visiting Quebec City! We stayed just outside Old Quebec in a neighbourhood called Saint-Saveur. It is one of 35 neighbourhoods of Quebec City. We didn’t think that we would spend much time there but, it turned out that it was full of amazing cafes, shops and restaurants – we often
Still Knitting Socks…May 2023
It is only May 17th and I have already finished my pair of socks for May! Yes, I am definitely getting faster at knitting socks. Maybe this month, I feel like I will be able to knit two pairs. I am giving these away as I knit them. I have been giving them to my
The Importance of Hobbies
In our recent podcast, we talked about how important it is to balance your life out with hobbies. You don’t have to be amazing at them, you just need to try new things, regularly. Is there something that you are intimidated by? Is it cooking – buy yourself a fun recipe book and “dig in”.
Flowers in the House…
You will almost always find flowers in my house. Along with beautiful plants, I love flowers – in pots, in a vase…they bring colour and light during the long winter nights. In the summer, my flowers are in pots around the patio or growing in the front garden, but, when the garden falls asleep in
What is your baseline? Some thoughts for 2023…
Lots of words get “batted” around when a new year begins. How do we find “happiness”? What is our “purpose”? How do we keep ourselves on track for our goals, our vision, our relationships? I am personally not fond of the word “happiness”. Happiness, to me, is like an ice cream cone on a hot
What are your beliefs?
The Christmas Season is a time of reflection. Definitely, the hustle and bustle of purchasing, baking, cooking, organizing parties and dinners has taken the focus off of the “reflection” part of the season. We live in a world where many different traditions are celebrated – depending on culture, religion or different family values and beliefs.
Movember
This year, Movember has brought special meaning to our family. Cancer is always part of our lives. We fear it, we do our best to avoid it, we live with it. This year, my husband received a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The medical system is not easy to navigate – doctors and surgeons can be
The Joy of Cycling
What happens when winter comes and your outdoor cycling days come to an end? Some people will by a “winter” bike or a fat bike but, those of us who don’t want to cycle around in the snow move to a indoor bike. This year, for my birthday, my family bought me a chaoke….an indoor
A Blessing for Telling the Truth (No Matter How Bitter or Sweet) – Kate Bowler
I am a truth teller – it is not always a fun place to live. I have learned how important it is to pick the right moment, to avoid it when the person is not ready for it and to definitely not do it to prove a point. Living an honest life: however, is not
Happy Thanksgiving! The “official” beginning of Autumn….
The signs of Autumn definitely begin after Labour Day – we hang on to summer until September 21st but, it comes nonetheless with cool weather and frost, leaves changing colours, apples on trees and bright sunny days with blue skies and fluffly clouds. In my house, it means canning applesauce and apple pie filling, freezing